Wall tile



H. HERZOG April 7, 1970 WALL TILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1967Fig. 1

Fig.2

lnventon FigA LII/Ymar Hf ffz 06 M A 255 H. HERZOG WALL TILE April 7,1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1967 United States Patent US. Cl.52-309 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The wall tile is formed oftwo parts, each of synthetic rigid resin; one part is adapted to besecured to the wall and formed with a fiat rigid base plate withstraight sides and upstanding projecting small side walls located inwardly of the outer edges of the plate; the other part is a flat rigidtop plate, which may be upholstered or formed with a decorative surface,and has projecting side walls at the outer edge thereof fitting snuglyover and around the side walls of the base plate, with small projectionsand notches being provided on the side walls so that the top plate canbe snapped over the bottom plate, and, if damaged, replacedindependently of the adhering bottom plate.

The present invention concerns a wall-covering such as tiles or panelsconsisting of a pair of substantially plate-shaped, spaced panels, oneof which is covered with an edge-attached plastics material sheath whichmay have an upholstery padding interdisposed between panel and plastic.

Wall-covering tiles, plates or panels of this kind are suitable forsurfacing walls, doors, ceilings, articles of furniture, etc., giving aparticularly pleasing shape and attractive appearance. Plastic materialis commercially available which is hardly distinguishable from naturalleather or which accurately imitates particular woodgrain patterns. Suchmaterials are to chemical and physical influences as well as easilycleaned and thus, are suitable for a great variety of applications. Inparticular, the provision of an upholstery padding, between the linerand the covering material or sheathing, supplies effective sound-dampingand heat insulation. It is further possible, by this means, to make wallcoverings having a damping or buffering effect against hard knocks orblows as, for instance, in the case of wall-covering for gymnasia andsimilar spaces, for the protection of the persons engaged therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wall-coveringpanel embodying improvements relating to increased rigidity, simplifiedfitting and improved means of removal, at the same time highly resistantto weather and temperature influences.

According to the present invention, the wall-covering panel comprises asubstantially flat, rigid box-like structure which is upholstered withan edge-attached covering material, said structure having interfittingupper and lower parts, the joint plane between which is parallel withthe broadside of the liner, the covering material being permanentlyedge-connected along the edges of one of said interfitting parts.

The upper and lower parts may respectively each consist of aprecisely-dimensioned, plastics material injection molding, andcombining with accurate dimensioning, practically complete indifferenceto weather conditions. Erection and removal is simplified since thelower and upper parts are respectively made boxor tray-shaped, andfitting into each other by their side walls. It is in this regardadvantageous if the upper and/or the lower parts are provided withholding or retaining means on their interfitting side surfaces.

This wall-covering panel provides a very light form of construction,easily manufactured by fully-automatic means. The two-part form ofconstruction ensures that no temperature stresses can arise within thestructure. In the case of a temperature gradient arising from the factthat the panel may be fitted with its inner face flush with acomparatively cool outer wall of a building and its outer face exposedto direct insulation, the upper part is able to expand differentially,independently of the lower part, without any hindrance. If the coveringupholstery material is attached only to the upper part, thecorresponding lower part can be laid in place first, for which it shouldbe provided with openings for the admission of holding or securingmeans, such as nails or screws, over which the upper part is thenfitted. Should the covering be damaged anywhere, the upper part of theparticular wall-covering panel affected, need only be exchanged. Theliner of plastics material provides a completely smooth, fiat surfacefor the upholstery covering, so that no further fitting is required,such as would be necessary, for instance, if the liner or backing sheetwere to consist, as in the usual form of wallboards, of a hard-board orsimilar material, which requires chamfering at the edges.

The cavity formed between the two interfitting parts, may be filled, ifdesired, with a sound-absorbing or damping substance, for example,Styropor.

The structure and organization of the present invention will bedescribed more specifically with reference to the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan of an upper part of a wall-covering panel constructedin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan of a lower part of the wall-covering panel;

FIG. 4 is a corresponding side elevation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the assembled panel on an enlarged scale;and

FIG. 6 is a detail in section of the connecting means between the upperand lower parts of the panel.

Referring now to the drawings, a wall-covering tile or panel generallydenoted 1, is covered by a plastics material covering or facing layer 2,a layer of upholstery padding 3, for example, of foamed rubber material,being interposed between the upper side of the tile 1 and the plasticsmaterial layer covering 2. The tile 1, substantially in the form of afiat plate, is made in two interconnected parts, namely, an upper part 4and a lower part5, a parting plane 6 thereof runs parallel to thebroadside of the panel 1. The upper and lower parts 4 and 5 respectivelyeach consist of an accuratelydimensioned plastics material injectingmolding. Both parts, 4 and 5, are essentially box-or tray-shaped,fitting into each other along their side walls 9 and 8 respectively. Theupper or top part can be fitted over the side walls 8 of the under orbase part 5 in the manner of a box lid. In order to ensure a perfectconnection between the upper and lower parts 4 and 5, withstanding evenconsiderable stresses, mortice-and-tennon holding means 9' and 8' areprovided in the region of the joint faces of the side walls 9 and 8respectively. A cavity 10' is formed between the upper part 4 and thelower part 5 which can be filled with a suitable sound-absorbing ordamping medium 10 such as cork or Styropor.

The lower part 5 has a continuous, projecting fillet flange 11 to whichthe covering material 2 is attached at 7. This attachment is mostsuitably made as a weld seam, which affords an air and watertight seal.If, in view of the material characteristics, a weld seam at 7 isimpracticable, a joining aid, for instance, in the form of a PVC jointstrip 3 can be fitted to which the covering material can then be welded.

In order to improve the rigidity of the panel, which may have a depth ofabout 3 rnm., reinforcing strips 13 can be incorporated in the upperpart 4. It is, however, also possible to arrange the reinforcing pieces13 to be incorporated as ribs in the lower part 5, so that they supportthe upper part at suitable intervals.

In the embodiment described above, the facing material 2 is welded onthe fillet 11 of the lower part thus forming a complete unit sealedwater-and weatherproof on all sides; it is also possible to use anarrangement in which the covering material 2 can be removed or detachedfrom the lower part 5. In such case, the lower part 5 is mounted on awall or the like, separately from the upper part 4, for which purpose itis provided with perforations or holes 12 through which attaching meanssuch as nails or screws can be passed. Further, the upper part 4 isfitted with edge fillets or battens, as indicated in broken lines at11a, for the attachment of the covering material 2. The arrangement can,depending on the desired appearance of the finished covering, be made insuch manner that the edge fillets 11, 110 end flush with the upper orlower side of the panel 1; but it is equally possible, as shown, to fitthe edge fillets 11a in or near the parting plane 6.

Since these wall panels are usually assembled with closefitted buttjoints, it will be adavntageous, for the purpose of obtaining a firmerhold of the assembly, to form the lower part 5, in the region of theedge of the fillet 11, with grooves 14 and tongues 15. In such case,each two abutting side edges have a groove 14 and the two remainingedges a tongue 15 (FIG. 3).

I claim:

1. A wall tile comprising two parts of synthetic, rigid resin,

one part being adapted to be secured to a wall and formed of a flat,rigid base plate having straight sides and upstanding projecting sidewalls located inwardly of the outer edges of the sides of the plate,leaving a marginal flange;

the other part being formed of a flat, rigid top panel of similaroutline as said base plate and formed with projecting side walls at theouter edges of the sides of said top plate and located to be snuglyfitting over and around the side walls of the base plate, the terminaledges of said projecting side walls bearing against said marginal flangewhen said parts are fitted together;

and means formed on said side walls interlocking said parts together.

2. Tile according to claim 1, wherein said first part is formed forplacement on a wall, side by side with similar tiles, said tiles havinga polygonal outline and said marginal flanges being formed with meansinterlocking adjacent tiles together.

3. Tile according to claim 1, including a covering material for said toppart, said covering material being permanently edge-connected along theedegs of said interfitting parts.

4. Tile according to claim 1, wherein the flat, rigid plate of saidfirst part adapted to be secured to a wall is formed with a plurality ofperforations for the reception of attaching means of said part to a wallstructure.

5. Tile according to claim 1, wherein a cavity is formed between saidparts when they are fitted together, and a filling of sound-absorbingmaterial is located in said cavity.

6. Tile according to claim 1, wherein the marginal flange on said firstpart is flush with the projecting side walls of said other parts whensaid parts are fitted together.

7. Tile according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said interfittingparts is provided with at least one reinforcing rib.

8. Tile according to claim 1, wherein said tile has an even number ofstraight sides, the outer edges of the flanges of half the sides beingformed with a groove, and the outer edges of the flanges of the otherhalf of the sides being formed with a tongue, whereby said tongue andgrooves of adjacent tiles may be fitted together.

9. Tile according to claim 1, wherein said tiles are rectangular and theouter edges of the flanges of two sides are formed with a groove, theouter edges of the other two sides of the flanges being formed with atongue, so that tongue and groove of adjacent tiles can be fittedtogether.

10. Tile according to claim 1, including an edge flange projecting fromthe side walls of said top plate in a direction parallel to said topplate, said edge flange bearing against said flange on the first part.

11. Tile according to claim 10, including a covering materialpermanently edge-connected to one of said flanges extending from one ofsaid parts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,000,147 5/1935 Place 5251 12,410,727 11/1946 Furbish 297452 3,251,076 5/1966 Burke. 3,295,8911/1967 Brown 297452 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,267,696 6/1961 France.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner J L. RIDGILL, JR., Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

